Page 51 of You Kissed Me First

“Sure. I wouldn’t miss it. I know I’ve been absent so far, but I’ll be there. I promise.”

“Good. I miss you, bitch.”

Getting up, I pull her from her chair, pulling her into a hug. “Miss you more, hooker.”

* * *

As I sit watchingthe game on the screen above the bar, I wonder how much longer I have to make an appearance here.

It’s not that I don’t like these guys. With the exception of Barrett, the rest of the guys have been close friends with Grant and me for years. Usually I’d be partying it up right along with them.

The problem tonight is that I want to be with her.

When she left the room in that black mini skirt with the red halter top, I knew I was in trouble.

What if she’s dancing with another man? She’s getting hit on for sure. Any idiot would be blind not to see how sexy she looks.

I’m still lost in my thoughts, barely paying attention when someone knocks into my shoulder. Glancing over, I find Grant.

“You aren’t being very fun, Best Man.”

“I think you’re having enough fun for the both of us,” I tell him without taking my eyes off the television.

I raise my beer bottle to my lips, but he grabs it from me.

“What the fuck, man?” I turn, giving him my full attention.

“There he is. What is going on with you, man? You’ve been distracted all night.”

I shrug. It’s true. When they wanted me to take shots, I took one then bowed out. I don’t want to ruin Grant’s fun, but I also want to stay somewhat sober. I know Katie is an adult and is probably managing fine on her own, but still some small part of me wants to go up there and make sure she’s okay.

The thought of her dancing two floors above me makes me grit my teeth. I could go to her right now.

Grant claps my shoulder before turning to the others. “How about we go see what kind of trouble my beautiful bride is getting up to?”

The men all shout their agreement as Grant turns to me. He gives me a knowing look.

“What?” I ask.

“Let’s go get our girls, shall we?”

I go to tell him she’s not really mine and I’m not sure she even wants me up there, but I see Barrett lingering nearby, so I don’t.

Instead, I smile and say, “Let’s go get them. I miss her.”

Grant shakes his head before downing the rest of his drink. I don’t bother with my beer, leaving it on the counter where Grant abandoned it.

As we head up to the nightclub as a group, I feel a small ping of insecurity. I’ve never had to wonder where I stood with a girl in the past. I’m so used to them throwing themselves at me. They do whatever they could to get my attention, but it was never because of me really. It was either my body or bank account.

Not Katie. It was almost like she took one look at me and labeled me a player without even getting to know me. While at the same time, I looked at her and saw a woman I wanted to get to know.

Over the years we have had banter back and forth, but I really thought she hated me. Until this trip, at least.

So it’s hard for me to believe that she might actually like me now. Even if I feel the way her body melts into me every time I pull her close, her mind might not be on the same page.

When she came back from visiting her sister this afternoon, she was quiet. She kept to herself before locking herself in the bathroom to get ready. Then she barely said goodbye before heading out to meet the girls.

I didn’t like it.

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